[quote]gregron wrote:
Couple things. The woman was not a DNR. She was a full code.
Secondly, the woman who was refusing to do CPR was an RN (that’s what they said on the news last night)
The companies policy is to call 911 and stand by with the patient. Without a doubt this is to avoid a lawsuit. The “good sameritan law” does not apply to people who are medically trained, which all the staff members would be (CPR/AED at a minimum) If the attempt to render aid and fail they would be opening themselves and the company up for a potentially huge law suit.
It’s a crummy situation but that’s how it goes. The patients family also said they didn’t have a problem with how it went down and that they knew the SNF’s policies before sending her there.[/quote]
I have never understood these type of policies. Terms like nonfeasance and misfeasance come to mind when I hear about people who work in the healthcare field, are medically trained, and fail to render aide. One would think that they, either individually or the company itself, would be even more at risk for civil litigation if they are trained to do the task and they fail or flat out refuse to do so.
Broken ribs mend. Lack of blood circulating o2 to the brain is fatal. Breaking a few ribs to keep life sustaining blood flowing until advanced care can be given is an acceptable risk in my book. This is common sense.
I work in public safety and am occasionally called to a doctor’s office or facility where basic healthcare / aide is given. I always shake my head in wonder as I am performing CPR as a medical first responder while a nurse or physician’s assistant, with significantly more medical training than I, watch on. I don’t get it.